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Augsburg host Berlin in pathfinding encounter

vor 2 Stunden

Just one point separates Augsburg and Hertha Berlin leading into their Matchday 6 encounterJapan international Hajime Hosogai returns to the club where he spent a season on loan ion 2011/12Augsburg will be keen to keep the points in Bavaria with Daniel Baier (2nd r.) currently in excellent form for Markus Weinzierl's menSalomon Kalou opened his account for Berlin in midweek and he should lead the line again for Jos Luhukay's men

Augsburg - With just four points separating fourth from 14th in the Bundesliga, FC Augsburg and Hertha Berlin both know that a win could take them a long way on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 13:30 GMT/15:30 CEST).

bundesliga.com has the lowdown on the clash at the SGL Arena...

The current campaign had already produced a record 19 draws going into Matchday 6, which is why a win for either side is invaluable. Augsburg and Hertha find themselves in that table position where the bottom three are still a little close for comfort but the top six are by no means out of reach.

(pictured) picked up an ankle injury on Wednesday night in Leverkusen and will miss out on Sunday. Caiuby took Mölders' place in the 1-0 defeat at the BayArena and the Brazilian is the most likely replacement on this occasion, but Tim Matavz is also in contention for a starting berth.

Valentin Stocker impressed on his first appearance for Berlin a week ago, although he was left out of the 1-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg, a game in which Salomon Kalou netted his first goal in Hertha colours. That strike should mean Julian Schieber (pictured) remains on the bench, but coach Jos Luhukay is not lacking options.

is something of an understated figure in the Augsburg team, but he does not need the limelight to play an important role. Responsible for winning possession in midfield (52 per cent tackles won) and spreading play with a pass success rate of over 76 per cent, he even chipped in with a rare goal against SV Werder Bremen on Matchday 4.

was an Augsburg fan favourite when he was on loan at the club in 2011/12 thanks to his tireless work ethic but the Japan international will have no room for sentiment this weekend, as he hopes to prevent Baier and Co. sealing a second consecutive home win.

Markus Weinzierl (Augsburg coach): We had two very tight draws with them last season. I fear this is going to be another tight one.

(pictured): I always seem to open my account with a header, so that's a good omen. Even Didier Drogba sent his congratulations.

Augsburg have lost one game more than Hertha this season, yet they are one point ahead of their guests thanks to wins against Eintracht Frankfurt and Bremen. Berlin only got their first win of the season against Wolfsburg in midweek, building on draws with Bremen and SC Freiburg.

Weinzierl's suggestion that this will be a tight one is backed by history: the two sides have drawn three of their last four meetings. The only exception was a 3-0 win for Augsburg in their first season in the top flight, a result which inspired them to Bundesliga survival, while the Old Lady went down. Incidentally, Augsburg's coach at the time was current Hertha boss Luhukay.